This report highlights business development accomplishments by the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation (WE EDC) from October to December 2018 and provides an overview of regional economic development interactions that include, but are not limited to, outreach, consultation, trade shows, performance metrics, entrepreneurship, marketing, and international outreach by the Business Development team. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IN WINDSOR-ESSEX /windsoressex /windsoressex /weecdev Through these and other activities, the team focuses on five key areas: Business Attraction Small Business Centre Business Retention & Expansion Institute for Border Logistics and Security Marketing and Communications Quarterly reports are provided to funders, stakeholders and the general public and are posted on the Corporation’s website www.choosewindsoressex.com HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018 FOURTH-QUARTER ACTIVITIES
Transcript
This report highlights business development
accomplishments by the WindsorEssex Economic
Development Corporation (WE EDC) from October
to December 2018 and provides an overview of
regional economic development interactions
that include, but are not limited to, outreach,
consultation, trade shows, performance metrics,
entrepreneurship, marketing, and international
outreach by the Business Development team.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IN WINDSOR-ESSEX /windsoressex /windsoressex/weecdev
Through these and other activities, the team focuses on five key areas:
Business Attraction
Small Business Centre
Business Retention & Expansion
Institute for Border Logistics and Security
Marketing and Communications
Quarterly reports are provided to funders, stakeholders and the general public and are posted on the Corporation’s website www.choosewindsoressex.com
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018 FOURTH-QUARTER ACTIVITIES
The Business Attraction (BA) team
and regional stakeholders welcomed
Kauth - a global leader in manufacturing
from Germany - to Windsor at a media
conference. Kauth North America
will open its doors in a cargo building
located on the YQG airport land with
25 employees in warehousing and
distribution with plans to expand to
a manufacturing facility that will
employ up to 350 employees. Kauth
conducted an extensive search in
several communities throughout
North America and determined that
Windsor provides the best business
case and advantages to assist them
in achieving their goals and growth in
North America.
The BA team has connected Kauth
to local suppliers through after-
care support. In addition to Kauth
employing state-of-the-art production
processes they have met and made
purchases from regional companies
to procure tool and dies, welding cells
and stamping presses for their future
expansion.
Kauth - a family-owned business,
has six manufacturing facilities
globally with over 900 employees and
specializes in stamping and forming,
developing and producing formed
parts with integrated extruded holes,
sub-assemblies and attachment
systems. Their client base consists
of BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen, Audi,
Chevrolet and Magna. Kauth combines
great experience with state-of-the-art
production processes, making them
the technology leader in the field of
tube and forming technology and an
ideal partner to develop fastening
solutions.
The Marketing and Communications team supported Business Attraction
and Kauth with event management
of a media conference/open house,
significant social media and media
relations. Read the media release.
German Auto Parts Company, Kauth North America, Selects Windsor-Essex
B U S I N E S S A T T R A C T I O N
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Drew Dilkens, Mayor, City of Windsor; Steffen May, CFO/Managing Director, Kauth; Tom Bain, Warden of Essex County and Stephen MacKenzie, CEO, WE EDC
Small Business Month Celebrations – Over 1,200 People Attended the W.E. Shop Local Show
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W.E.SHOP LOCAL SHOWPRESENTED BY
WINDSORESSEX SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE
WINDSOR ESSEX
The SBC hosted its’ 4th Annual Small
Biz Expo – rebranded to the W.E. Shop Local Show - on Oct 25 at the
Fogolar Furlan Club. Over 48 local and
independent businesses participated
by showcasing and selling their
one-of-a-kind products and services
to the general public. Many of the
participating businesses were repeat
vendors of the growing and evolving
event and many are clients of the
SBC. Vendors included food and
beverage producers, fashions, beauty
and wellness producers, artisanal
products, wood furnishings, home
goods and more.
The evening was designed to
showcase the vibrancy and diversity
of the Windsor-Essex local and
independent small business
sector via shopping, tasting, live
demonstrations and networking.
Over 1200 members of the general public, more than double from the previous year attended this year’s show.
This year’s sponsors included
WFCU Credit Union - Small
Business, Royal Bank of Canada,
Business Resource Centre of Essex
County, Tourism Windsor Essex
Pelee Island, Ministry of Economic
Development and Growth, and
Canada Business Ontario.
The Marketing and Communications team provided
marketing support pre, during
and post the event. As a result
of the new branding for the
event the following assets were
developed: ads in print and online,
promotional items, and a new
sponsorship package. A media
relations campaign included an
integrated media campaign with
radio commercials on CKLW and
Blackburn Radio using vendor
voice-overs, YourTV (Cogeco) ads, a
Windsor Star Facebook campaign,
significant social media (Twitter,
Instagram and Facebook). Media
interviews were arranged pre and
during the event with SBC and
WFCU, the presenting sponsor.
Small businesses promote and sell their products at the W.E. Shop Local Show 2018
S M A L L B U S I N E S S C E N T R E
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“To Rent or to Buy” Panel Discussions - Leamington District Chamber of Commerce
SBC participated in a panel discussion
with other industry experts on
one of the biggest questions an
entrepreneur encounters when
starting a business – “Should I rent or
should I buy a commercial property
for my business?” Attendees
learned how to find a suitable
building available for purchase,
hidden costs, lending tips on
(L-R) Shannon McCormick, Collins Barrow; John Krause, Century 21 Realty; James Cox, Municipality of Leamington; Tim Seech, Libro Credit Union; Shannon Dyck, SBC
what lenders want you to know,
and received a checklist of items
to consider to make an informed
decision for their business.
Ongoing Support and Training Through Workshops, Seminars and Networking Events
To support our small business
clients, SBC partners with various
professionals and organizations
across the Region to deliver effective
and relevant programming to aid
SBC clients to start and grow their
businesses. On November 21, Ilias Kiritsis of Mousseau DeLuca McPherson Prince LLP Barristers and Solicitors, and George John of Roth Mosey spoke to a group on how
to structure a business, and the tax
and legal implications of these various
structures. In December, SBC hosted
Jeffrey Patterson of Kavanaugh, and Milloy to discuss employment
law and Bill 148 changes to small
businesses with employees.
Networking for SBC Clients
Providing SBC clients with
opportunities to network with other
small businesses is a common
request. On November 28, Chapter
Two Brewery was the location
host of our 3rd networking event
SBC clients attend workshops on Business Structure and Taxes; networking with other small businesses.
where 57 small businesses and
entrepreneurs attended.
Partnerships
In partnership with the Windsor-Essex
Regional Chamber of Commerce,
Louie DiPalma, VP, SME Programs at OCC and Kevin McShan, Regional Spokesperson for the Discover Ability Network discussed how
employers can find and hire qualified
candidates with disabilities.
S M A L L B U S I N E S S C E N T R E
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Business Development Training Available Through Starter Company PLUS
The Starter Company PLUS
program provides training,
mentorship and a $5,000 grant
to support the launch of a new
business or expansion of an
existing business. Fifteen hours
of mandatory in-class training
is provided; plus, individualized
training and mentorship resources
are available. In Q4, a total of 48
new and existing entrepreneurs
representing a variety of
sectors, ages and demographics
participated in the training.
Win This Space Contest, Harrow, Ontario
2018 wrapped up with the culmination
of the Win This Space Contest.
Successful applicants participated in
the Starter Company Plus training
to ensure they were set up with the
proper training and tools to launch
their business. Three finalists were
chosen from submitted business
plans and provided an opportunity to
pitch in a “Dragon’s Den” style event
(L-R): Julia Laprade, Win this Space contest winner receives a Starter Company Plus grant from SBC’s Shannon Dyck
(L-R): Mike Tomek, Tomek Realty; Shannon Dyck, SBC, Tammy Afflect, Libro Credit Union, Julia Laprade, winner; Nelson Silviera, Town of Essex; and Corrie Bramhall, Harrow Chamber of Commerce
for the chance to win $1,000 / month
for a year towards commercial rent at
a location in Harrow, provided by Libro
Prosperity Fund.
S M A L L B U S I N E S S C E N T R E
Supporting Food Entrepreneurs, Producers and Processors from suppliers. A number of our small
food processing businesses from last
year’s session have received ongoing
mentorship from Peter in 2018.
The Marketing and Communications team provided social media support to
promote this SBC event.
Chapman of SKUfood. Participants
heard how to understand the retailer
as a customer, how to focus on the
numbers, and how to build a sales plan.
Peter’s presentation was designed to
help our local food entrepreneurs to
understand what retailers are looking
for when it comes to performance
As part of SBC’s Agri-Food Business
Builder Project and in response to the
growing demand by food entrepreneurs
in the Region, SBC hosted part two of
2017’s “How to Get More Windsor-Essex
Products in the Shopping Cart”.
This full day seminar was held on
November 13th and presented by Peter
Peter Chapman (Right) with Theo Rallis (Left), Rallis Olive Oils presents “Surviving and Thriving When Selling to Retailers”.
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B U S I N E S S R E T E N T I O N & E X P A N S I O N
Emerging Technologies in Automation Conference & Trade Show
Over 350 attendees and 46
exhibitors made this year’s Emerging
Technologies in Automation
Conference & Trade Show the most
successful since its inception. Keynote
presentations from Alexandre Vallières of AIworx and Chris Blanchette of FANUC America Corporation bookended the day
which featured luncheon speaker
Grant Courville of BlackBerry’s QNX Software Systems who presented
“On the Road to Autonomous Cars –
Trends and Technologies.” Concurrent
sessions were offered for the first
time at this event with streams
entitled: Manufacturing Automation,
Additive Manufacturing, Mobility and
Moldmaking Technologies.
A highlight of the day was the joint
announcement by WE EDC, NRC-
IRAP and the Canadian Association
of Moldmakers (CAMM) that a new
association of automation companies -
Automate Canada - will be established
as a branch of CAMM. This new
association was the intended outcome
of the conference when it was initially
established. CAMM will provide the
structure and administration to allow
the new branch to launch quickly but it
will have its own board of directors
The Marketing and Communications team supported BR&E with the
management of the website, event,
videography and social media. Watch
the video. Read the media release.
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Grant Courville, QNX: “The
conference was excellent, and I
am sure that the attendees really
appreciated the effort that went
into making it such a well-run event.
Also, I was really impressed with the
talent, expertise and enthusiasm I
saw in Windsor at the event... best
kept secret in Ontario.”
Flavio Volpe, APMA: “You run a top
tier event and you should be proud
of it.”
Bob Little, Altair: “It was a very good
show, so congratulations on a job well
done.…..I recommend Altair participate
in this one-day event next year.”
Jonathon Azzopardi, CAMM/APMA/Laval International: “I would like to
also congratulate the WE EDC staff and
the NRC on a successful and sold out
Emerging Technology Event. It was all
around a very good event and CAMM
was very proud to be mentioned as a
partner.”
Alexandre Vallières, AIworx: “Canada needs leaders in
automation and, from what I’ve
seen, Windsor-Essex is exactly
what we need.”
Rachel Boucher-Yaroch, Radix: “Count us in for next year! You
guys nailed the execution of the
event! Congrats!”
A selection of comments from speakers and exhibitors:
B U S I N E S S R E T E N T I O N & E X P A N S I O N
German Mold Association VDWF Visit to Windsor-Essex
MFG DAY 2018
MFG North American Strategy for Competitiveness Regional Update in Windsor–Essex 2018
In partnership with Workforce WindsorEssex, the BR&E team organized the sixth annual MFG DAY. This industry tour day with local manufacturers is a North American wide initiative aimed at showcasing to students the technology and career opportunities in state-of-the-art and modern manufacturing facilities.
This year over 600 students from all four school boards and one private school toured the fifteen manufacturers that opened their doors to connect with the future workforce. The students were invited
Also presented was the latest NASCO initiative, the “U.S. - Canada Border Action Plan”, which was developed with the support of the Business Council of Canada.
The Windsor-Essex Trade Working Group shared their work on a local
to experience what manufacturing is like in 2018 while having an opportunity to participate in activities such as 3D printing, welding and machine operating.
As part of MFG Day, Build A Dream organized a forum at Laval Tool to discuss how to get more underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities, to pursue careers in skilled trades with special guest, the Hon. Patty Hajdu, the Federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.
trade strategy and the Windsor-Essex perspective on the impact of trade policies on our economy. NASCO was briefed on the development of the new association of automation companies.
In November, WE EDC hosted a roundtable with Tiffany Melvin, President, North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO). Over 20 attendees, representing various key stakeholder groups discussed trade, transportation, the border, cross border relationships, supply chains, workforce skills integration, significant infrastructure projects, and best practices. The attendees were updated on the vision and actions of NASCO, and the latest on the USMCA. The importance of this collaborative, tri-national relationship and what we should know prior to and post the signing of the Agreement.
In September the BR&E team supported CAMM in hosting an 18-member delegation from the German Tool and Mold Association VDWF. Windsor-Essex was part of a larger tour that included Toronto and the Detroit area. The delegation visited four local mold shops before heading to Detroit. An article chronicling their mission appeared in the association’s magazine VDWF Dialogue. Read the article.
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Tiffany Melvin, NASCO presents to stakeholders
International students tour Lakeshore Fixture & Gauge
B U S I N E S S R E T E N T I O N & E X P A N S I O N
MOU signing – WE EDC, CAMM and Tool and Gauge Manufacturers Association of India
WE EDC and CAMM toured Tata Motors Plant in India
Business Development Bank of Canada Anniversarylandscape is changing in profound and unprecedented ways across all industries. Eighty-five people attended and hear the most up-to-date information on the economy, learned about the most up-to-date information on the economy, learn about trends
to watch for as well as risks and opportunities for business owners.
The Marketing and Communications team organized the event and managed media relations.
Mary Ann Wenzler-Wiebe, VP of BDC presented An Economy in Transition: How to Future-proof Your Business. From emerging technologies, to global uncertainties and shifting demographic trends marked by an aging population, Canada’s business
Mary Ann Wenzler-Wiebe, Vice President - GTA West, Business Development Bank of Canada at the podium
I N S T I T U T E F O R B O R D E R L O G I S T I C S A N D S E C U R I T Y ( I B L S )
Highway Carrier Night
On Friday, November 2, 2018, WE EDC
and WEtech Alliance partnered to host
the Region’s first-ever Tech Mobility
Day. Almost 100 people attended the
all-day event that was organized into
three components to highlight the
Region’s place as a mobility hub: five
start-up companies were selected to
present their mobility ideas to compete
for $10,000 in cash prizes provided
by WE EDC as well as other valuable
IBLS played a key role in organizing
the Windsor Transportation
Club’s annual Highway Carrier
Night. The event brings key
stakeholders interested in learning/
networking on trucking-related
activities. Approximately 75 people
representing a cross-section of
organizations, including logistic
providers, freight forwarders,
custom brokers, insurance
prizes; two keynote speakers - Salvador Saraga of Michelin North America and Nico Probst of LIME - encouraged the Windsor-Essex
Region to support the development
and growth of mobility technologies;
followed by a Mobility Showcase that
offered attendees an opportunity
to bear witness to leading mobility
technologies being made real by
companies like: Linamar, Ansys,
companies and a wide range of
transportation service companies
attended. The keynote speaker
was Barb Butler, recognized as
one of Canada’s leading advisors to
motor carriers on drug and alcohol
policies. The presentation focused
on the impact of the legalization
of cannabis in Canada on trucking
companies, including cross-border
travel.
McGrails Farm Equipment/John Deere
and others. Scott Fairley, Optimotive
Technologies and Vince Cifani with
Joyride were the co-winners of the
Mobility Pitch Competition.
The Marketing and Communications team were on-site
to provide event management, social
media and media relations support.
Read the media release.
Barb Butler speaks to the Windsor Transportation Club members and guests
Optimotive Technologies (Windsor) selected as co-winner for Mobility Pitch Competition with WE EDC’s Susan Anzolin and Stephen MacKenzie; Scott Fairley - Optimotive Technologies; and Yvonne Pilon, WEtech Alliance
Windsor-Essex Organizations Work Together to Support Women Entrepreneurs
It is for these reasons that several local organizations came together to develop a coordinated approach to support women in the Windsor-Essex Region to consider entrepreneurship in emerging technologies. In brief, the project will involve the following three key activities:
1. Enhance Data and Knowledge
2. Encourage Women Entrepreneurship and Help Women-Owned Businesses Grow
3. Increase Representation of Women in Emerging Technologies Businesses
Working as an integrated and coordinated ecosystem, WE EDC – along with the Accelerator, Windsor-Essex Capital Angel Network (WECAN), the EPICentre, WEtech Alliance and Workforce WindsorEssex – developed a proposal for the Government of Canada to help reverse the trend by focusing on entrepreneurship as a way to encourage women to start and grow emerging technology businesses across all stages of business development. The application was submitted on November 22, 2018.
There are 736 manufacturing companies and over 450 automation and automation-related companies in Windsor-Essex employing around 27,000 people (or 25% of the local workforce). The economic outlook for the automotive industry and automation is very positive and made even more appealing with approval-in-principle of the United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA). And, yet the automotive industry (as a key industry linked to emerging technologies) is sorely under-represented by women, especially at the CEO-level/Board of Directors.
I N S T I T U T E F O R B O R D E R L O G I S T I C S A N D S E C U R I T Y ( I B L S )
Tri-City, Bi-National Delegation Continue to Work TogetherOn June 28, 2018, the World
Economic Forum - in partnership
with Deloitte - announced a
collaboration with the cities of
Detroit, Ann Arbor and Windsor to
pilot seamless integrated mobility
solutions in the Region. Windsor
(represented by WE EDC and the
City of Windsor) is collaborating
with Detroit and Ann Arbor to create
a tri-city, bi-national initiative to
provide customers with an easy-to-
use, open and integrated platform,
connecting all mobility modes in the
Region. As part of this collaboration,
the tri-city delegation has been
afforded privileged access to experts
around the world, including site
visits to mobility-leading initiatives
globally, such as Caiscais, Portugal
and Columbus, Ohio.
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M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
Corporate Marketing & Communications
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Website & Social Media Analytics
The Marketing department focuses on creating
strategies that support business development initiatives
within the areas of Business Retention and Expansion,
Business Attraction, and Entrepreneurship as well
as providing client support. Advertising strategies
are aimed at enhancing business development and
promoting the Windsor-Essex Region.
Strategic programs and activities include the following:
Integrated marketing and advertising campaigns, event
management, sponsorships, media and public relations,
collateral materials, and communication through social
media channels including video and corporate websites.
Marketing maintains corporate brand standards and brand
Total Fans – 7,076 Total Impressions – 510,300 Total Engagement – 3,989
Top Site Visitors Canada USA India FranceUK
M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
SBC seniorpreneur client Sissy and Roche Fine Arts (Kingsville), featured in the November edition of Biz X Magazine.
APMA’s Lead Reach and Connect Magazine featuring the benefits of the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) with distribution to owners and decision makers of auto parts manufacturers in Canada. The magazine will also be distributed at the Canada Auto Show in Toronto in February 2019 and at the Automotive Dinner taking place in Windsor in March 2019.
The benefits of the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) was also featured in India’s premier B2B automotive magazine – AUTOCAR Professional. The focus of the magazine is on the Indian automotive industry, and includes comprehensive coverage of vehicle and component manufacturers, fuels, roads and infrastructure which impacts the development of the auto sector. AUTOCAR also features regular updates of auto markets in the rest of Asia including China and South East Asia.
Advertising
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Windsor-Essex:YOUR GATEWAY TO NORTH AMERICA
windsoressexftz.com
If international trade is essential to the growth of your business,
exploring the opportunity provided by a foreign trade zone (FTZ) could be essential to your future success. Choosing Windsor-Essex, Ontario Canada as your FTZ facilitator will make your decision much easier.
M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
Sponsorship
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The Small Business Centre was an award sponsor at the Biz X Magazine Awards. (L-R): Gina Meret-Dybenko; Natasha Marar; Shannon Dyck; Holly Connelly
SBC client Edward Hayes Lighting (Windsor), sponsored ad on Facebook November 2018
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Shop Local theme for the holidays, sponsored ad on Facebook December 2018
W.E. Shop Local sponsored ad on Facebook October 2018
WE EDC supported the University
of Windsor’s Georgie-Odette
Leadership Symposium,
an annual event targeted
at students and business
professionals bringing together
proven business leaders who
speak on various aspects of
successful leadership.
WE EDC Board of Directors Meeting Hosted at Reko Automation Facility
Back Row (L-R): William Willis, Willis Business Law; Chris Savard, Devonshire Mall, VIC 20 Management Inc.; Tom O’Brien, Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards; Diane Reko, Reko International Group; Kyrsten Solcz, Solcz Family Foundation; Paul Mastronardi, Red Sun Farms; Peter Roth, formerly Roth Mosey; Stephen MacKenzie, WE EDC. Front Row(L-R): Rakesh Naidu, WE EDC (formerly); Tal Czudner, Essex Golf & Country Club; Warden Tom Bain, County of Essex. (absent: Mayor Drew Dilkens, City of Windsor and Kevin Laforet, Caesars Wndsor)
M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
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Institute of Municipal Assessors (IMA) ConferenceStephen MacKenzie, CEO, WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation was invited to present at the 62nd IMA Conference held in Windsor. This year’s conference theme was “Assessors Without Borders”, and the IMA felt
that there was no better place than Windsor-Essex Region to host their event. Stephen presented an overview of the Windsor-Essex Region to over 240 delegates. Read the Fall 2018 IMA newsletter
Stephen MacKenzie, CEO, WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation
What We DoThe WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation advanceseconomic development and prosperity in our Region. We are the Region’s lead economic development agency and a dedicated catalyst for business growth and expansion. We attract new businesses to our Region, help strengthen existing businesses and support entrepreneurship in three key ways:
INFORMING
We provide the most current and relevant information and data on site selection, market research and available government funding.
GUIDING
We provide answers and advice on general business practices, expansion planning, multi-national branch planning and exporting, as well as training and educational resources.
CONNECTING We help organizations cutthrough red tape and we connect them directlywith key decision makers, potential partners andfunders.
choosewindsoressex.com
Total amount of new investment to the Region, through both public and private investment streams.
Top Economic Priorities as reported by Windsor-Essex Businesses
NAFTA/USMCA - Signing and Ratification
U.S. Tariffs on Aluminum & Steel - Compensation
Skilled Trades / Labour Demand and Challenges
Business Immigration - Labour Mobility
Federal Cannabis Legislation
2 Expansions Facilitated
5 Funding Applications and Joint Papers Developed
Business Startups
Priority Files
New Jobs Facilitated
8
32
172
New Investment Facilitated$33,750
† Note: The above figures reflect all of Windsor and Essex County, comparing Q3 2018 to Q4 2018 Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey custom tabulation
Regional Economic Indicators†
Population 15+341,300
Labour Force209,500
Employment200,600
Unemployment8,900
UnemploymentRate 4.2%
Participation Rate61.4%
Employment Rate58.8%
Building Permits*$52,828,100
66 Sessions1379 Attendees
Business Support Sessions
*Industrial, commercial and institutional permits only
